Key Status Indicator: The Berkey Filter

With an Apple Watch, the quantified health movement, workout tracking, and apps to track finances, shouldn’t we have a detailed read on how we’re doing? After all, if I ask you how you’re doing, what would you call upon to give a specific answer to that question?

I can’t seem to shake the validity of a joke I once made. It’s a simple proxy for my well being and maybe you can relate. 

How my life is going is directly related to the level of water in my water filter. 

You laugh, but the accuracy is remarkable. Years ago, it was one of those water filter pitchers that you put in the fridge and now it’s the big Berkey water filter on the kitchen counter. Here’s how I think it works:

One’s quality of life is tethered to our ability to take care of ourselves and our needs/responsibilities. The trouble with self-care is that it often comes down to choosing to do non-urgent, but important things over urgent things, whether they are urgent or not. 

When the water filter is empty, it simply means I was living my life in a way that I couldn’t refill the tank because I was chronically choosing to do that which felt urgent instead. Naturally, this is a state of being that is generally more reactionary and has less agency than the alternative. 

We know that having a high degree of agency is at the core of happiness. While I’m being silly about the Berkey filter, the metaphor works well. You might not have the same specific indicator, but the mechanics work. 

Fill up your tank, folks.

11/2/23 WOD

DEUCE Athletics GPP

Complete 4 rounds of the following:
3 Anderson Front Squats

Complete 3 rounds for quality of:
:15 Bulgarian Split Squat Hold – Left
10 Bulgarian Split Squats
6 Jumping Heel Pulls
— Switch –

Complete 4 rounds of the following:
In :90
Bull Run
Max Slam Balls
— Rest 2:00 —

 

DEUCE Garage GPP

EMOM 12
2 Hang Power Cleans @ 65-70%

4-4-4-4
Floating Clean Pull

AMRAP 4
Max Alt Rev Lunges

At 4 minutes, complete the following for time:
1 Mile Run